LOS ANGELES - Banks took back more U.S. homes in January than in the previous month, the latest sign that foreclosures are accelerating after slowing sharply last year while lenders sorted out foreclosure-abuse claims.

You're probably accustomed to measuring the progress of your investments, and the overall condition of the investment world, by checking on indexes such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500.

A Civilian Career Expo sponsored by CivilianJobs.com was held at Club Stewart on Wednesday in an effort to link two dozen employers and educational institutions with more than 500 active and former members of the military as well as military spouses.

WASHINGTON - Calling quits on a bruising election-year fight, negotiators on Capitol Hill announced an agreement late Wednesday on legislation to renew a payroll tax cut for 160 million workers and jobless benefits for millions more.

WAYNESBORO - With workers behind him already assembling the towering steel capsule that will contain one of the nation's first new commercial nuclear reactors in a generation, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Wednesday the Plant Vogtle expansion in Georgia will influence other American utilities weighing new investments in nuclear power.

ATLANTA - President Barack Obama on Monday proposed $2.8 million towards deepening the shipping channel to the Port of Savannah - far less than the $105 million supporters wanted, but they say the amount is enough to keep the effort on the federal radar.

Georgians who are deaf or hard of hearing - from 1 percent hearing loss to profound deafness - now can obtain a new amplified cordless phone for free, thanks to the Georgia Council for the Hearing Impaired Inc.

Georgia Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, an agency of the Department of Defense, recently honored Coastal Electrical CEO Whit Hollowell with a Patriot Award for supporting his employees who serve in the Georgia National Guard and Reserve.

Valentine's Day is almost upon us. To celebrate, you may want to present your loved ones with chocolates, flowers or any number of other traditional gifts. But if your valentine also happens to be your spouse or your life partner, you also might want to show your love in another way - by making sure you have adequate insurance.

If you’ve been out of the job interview game for a while, jumping back in is intimidating. Should you emphasize your title? What relevant skills matter most? Where do you start? Whether you’re an accomplished job applicant or a newbie, here are tips for standing out from the crowd:

Every job has requirements. Factory workers are required to do specific tasks every day. Doctors have to abide by certain health and ethical codes in caring for patients. Cooks have to prepare food according to the menu.

The first three months of the year mean many things to many people. Snow. Super Bowl. Groundhog Day. Valentine's Day. President's Day weekend. Mardi Gras. Lent. And the promise of pleasant spring to come.